Geoff Lemon's Blog, page 32
January 4, 2023
Usman Khawaja on verge of maiden Test 200 as Australia dominate South Africa
South Africa worked, then wilted, feeling that perhaps rain interruptions were not such a bad idea as the second day of the third Test in Sydney became more a matter of Australians chasing milestones than one of competitive cricket. Usman Khawaja’s golden career codicil continued with 195 not out, Steve Smith scored 104 to draw clear of Donald Bradman’s tally of 29 Test centuries, and Travis Head brought party time with him in a pyrotechnic 70 from 59 balls as Australia finished another rain-affected day on 475-4.
For Khawaja, that made it three centuries in his last three innings at the Sydney Cricket Ground that was his original home turf. During last year’s Ashes, what he thought would be a one-off farewell match as a Covid replacement instead resulted in twin hundreds and a permanent recall. He went on to make over a thousand Test runs in 2022, including two centuries in a poignant tour of Pakistan, the country where he was born. This trip back to Sydney took the ride full circle, leaving him eyeing off the first double-century of his long but stop-start career.
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January 3, 2023
Australia v South Africa: third Test, day one – as it happened
2nd over: Australia 7-0 (Khawaja 1, Warner 5) Odd from South Africa. Sure, Nortje has been their best bowler. But he’s also super fast and bashes the ball into the deck. On a humid morning with cloud coming over, I would have thought you would give the ball to Jansen first and see if it swings, rather than have Nortje bowl short at the hip. Leg bye, single, pull shot for none. This isn’t good use of a new ball.
Murray Henman writes in. “I guess we can be glad that this pitch isn’t as green as the Gabba and hope we get to Day 3 for Pink Day. Hoping for a better contest, and thanks for the OBO.”
Continue reading...Australia on top as weather halts play on first day of third Test with South Africa
Australia had the better of a shortened day to open the third Test against South Africa, as Sydney’s traditional New Year cloud cover ensured only 47 overs were bowled. An early tea break was called for bad light, with rain to follow, leaving the score at 138-1, before four more overs late in the day finished at 147-2. Usman Khawaja and Marnus Labuschagne put on 126 of those in concert, with Khawaja ending on 54 not out and Labuschagne out from the last ball of the day for 79, having earlier survived a contentious umpiring decision.
Both teams rejigged their line-ups anticipating a turning surface. South Africa swapped pace bowler Lungi Ngidi for off-spinner Simon Harmer, while bringing in reserve wicketkeeper Heinrich Klaasen to bat at three after Theunis de Bruyn headed home early for the birth of his child. Josh Hazlewood replaced Scott Boland in the pace ranks, while Australia chose Ashton Agar not in an all-rounder’s position but as one of four bowlers in Mitchell Starc’s place, partnering Nathan Lyon as a second spinner.
Continue reading...January 2, 2023
Australia have licence to experiment in Sydney Test against South Africa | Geoff Lemon
With a series win in the bag, injuries to consider and a looming visit to India, the hosts have the freedom, scope and necessity
Sydney is a place for experiments. Attending your first Mardi Gras parade, fomenting the Rum Rebellion, paying $4m for a dilapidated single-front terrace house: it’s all about opening your eyes with something that you may never have anticipated. There will be experiments for the third Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground this week, then. The Australian men have already won the series against South Africa, so they have the freedom. They are missing two first-choice players through injury, so they have the scope. And they are eyeing a difficult visit to India in a month’s time, so they have the necessity.
Missing Cameron Green with a broken finger, the first decision is about structure: whether an all-rounder is needed for bowling support. So far in a decent sample size of Green’s 18 Tests, there is nothing compelling in the numbers: when playing alongside him, Patrick Cummins has a small improvement across the key metrics of average, strike rate and economy rate; Josh Hazlewood improves his average and economy rate but worsens his strike rate; while Mitchell Starc is more economical but slips on the wicket-taking measures. The variations are within a small margin for error.
Continue reading...December 28, 2022
Australia thrash South Africa in the second Test – as it happened
11th over: South Africa 23-1 (Erwee 8, de Bruyn 11) Erwee’s first run of the day, dropping the ball towards cover from Starc and taking off. Nice shot from de Bruyn to finish the over, timing the straight ball out through midwicket for three.
10th over: South Africa 19-1 (Erwee 7, de Bruyn 8) A bye will be South Africa’s first score of the day, as Carey fumbles a take from Cummins. Starc must have applied some superglue or something to that finger, he’s on the boundary below us now and there’s no blood on his uniform anymore. Runs for de Bruyn, a thick edge along the ground behind point for two.
Continue reading...Australia secure series with thumping second Test victory over South Africa
It took some work but Australia wrapped up the second Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground before tea on day four, by an innings and 182 runs, taking nine South African wickets to restrict the tourists to 204 all out. The result breaks South Africa’s streak of three series wins on Australian soil, and made it two from two for Australia this summer after beating the West Indies.
David Warner won the Johnny Mullagh Medal for best on ground after his double century on the match’s hottest day, while Mitchell Starc was influential despite bowling with an injured hand.
Continue reading...December 27, 2022
Australia v South Africa: second Test, day three – as it happened
93rd over: Australia 393-3 (Head 49, Carey 15) Two slips, gully, deep backward point for Rabada, but none of them stop Carey playing a back cut that goes fine of the sweeper for four. Quality shot.
92nd over: Australia 389-3 (Head 49, Carey 11) Nortje to start, as was the case yesterday, and he picks up where he left off after Carey nudges a loosener for one run. Nasty bouncer over Head’s back shoulder, squaring him up and making him duck. Head gets off strike, Carey plays off the back foot, eventually picking up a run Warner style by dropping it down into the leg side.
Continue reading...Australia defy injuries at MCG to close in on Test series win against South Africa
Early on the third day of the Melbourne Test, despite their scorecard advantage, you wondered whether an Australian team that more resembled a medical ward could adequately function in the match. Instead, when they finally declared two sessions later, two batters with busted hands were the ones in the middle landing the punches. Moving to 575 for eight, Cameron Green ignored his fractured finger to face 171 balls for an unbeaten 51, while the blow Mitchell Starc’s finger took while fielding didn’t stop him carting a six in his 10 not out. Alex Carey had notched his first Test century to help build the lead to 386 runs, and South African captain Dean Elgar was caught behind for a duck before rain ended play at 15 for one.
The day had started in a rush for the visitors, already 197 runs behind but soon with hopes of limiting the damage after Anrich Nortje’s opening burst. First he smashed through Travis Head on 51, jagging the ball off the seam to hit Head’s back pad and deflect onto his stumps. David Warner returned, restored by a night’s rest after retiring with severe cramps on reaching 200 the evening before. He departed just as quickly, a Nortje yorker swinging into his ankle and again onto the stumps.
Continue reading...December 26, 2022
Australia v South Africa: second Test, day two – as it happened
13th over: Australia 53-1 (Warner 35, Labuschagne 9) Anrich Nortje to start off the day, South Africa’s quickest bowler with the Shane Warne Stand at his back. Tears in, lets fly, and Labuschagne nicks him for four! Reaches for width and gets a thick edge that hits the gap in the cordon. Labuschagne gets off strike with a bye, then Warner hops up on his toes and punches three runs square. They did a video this week with Australian players asking what Warner’s trademark shot is: it’s clearly that one. Punching behind point with an almost straight bat. I think that Usman Khawaja was the only one who called it right.
And we’re away…
Continue reading...David Warner caps milestone Test with 200 for Australia against South Africa
Before this year’s Boxing Day Test, the heat was on David Warner. Nearly three years without a Test century amid more broadly declining batting returns did not match the celebratory tone of the week leading up to his 100th Test match. But on the second day of the contest, Warner absorbed all of the heat that there was, and dragged the South African team into the furnace with him.
He was 200 not out when he limped off with cramps near the end of a scorching day. The South Africans had no such respite, bowling through to stumps when Australia led by 197, the score at 386 for three with two retired hurt who may return tomorrow.
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